Steven S. McNew

Steve McNew provides strategic advice and expert services for companies in the blockchain and digital assets sector and corporations looking to innovate with these technologies. Mr. McNew is a proven testifying expert, having offered testimony in the United States, Australia and Asia. Additionally, he has led all cryptocurrency workstreams on the largest bankruptcies in the sector for FTI Consulting.

Mr. McNew leads the global Blockchain & Digital Assets team across matters spanning investigations, cybersecurity, bankruptcy and restructuring, strategy and innovation and M&A due diligence. He has developed large-scale blockchain technology implementations using smart contracts development, artificial intelligence (“AI”) and Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices, and has provided forensic investigations expertise into disputes involving various forms of cryptocurrencies.

In addition to his work on crypto assets and blockchain, Mr. McNew has two decades of experience in cyber readiness and consistently leads large-scale engagements for clients in data governance, privacy and cybersecurity. This includes conducting tabletop exercises, cyber readiness consulting and testing, post-breach ransomware negotiations and post-breach identification of sensitive data within compromised data. He has led projects involving the technological assessment of cryptocurrency exchanges, validating assets under control (“AUC”) of potential acquisition targets, blockchain assessments, pilot projects and blockchain strategy and implementation, as well as investigations into disputes involving various forms of cryptocurrencies.

Mr. McNew authored an enterprise search patent application and has led a myriad of engagements related to emerging technologies and digital forensics for 36 years. Additionally, he has provided cybersecurity readiness to numerous Fortune 500 companies, including data protection, enterprise security testing and incident response.

Relevant Experience:

• Completed a full technical assessment and financial due diligence of an institutional digital asset custody, trading and finance company in anticipation of acquisition by an FTI Consulting client
• Architected and deployed a data governance and data privacy program for 3,500 applications and 7,000 structured databases to align to new requirements for the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (“CMMC”) and to the latest privacy regulations for a global telecommunications company
• Retained by a leading cryptocurrency fintech focused on trade and finance in relation to a class-action lawsuit over related party transactions, as well as a scathing report from a short seller market report
• Provided expert investigative services for alleged theft and/or improper use of Bitcoin and Ether payments by performing asset tracing and forensic analysis; prepared various written forensic reports detailing the investigative findings